Match-igniting device.



J. E. NEAHR.

MATCH IGNITING DEVICE. APPLICATION mu) FEB. 5. 1915.

1,21 6,53%. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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JACOB E. NEAHR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATGH-IGNITING DEVICE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 20,- 1911?.

Application filed February 15, 1915. Serial No. 8,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB E. NEAHR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Igniting Devices, of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates principally to a combined match-safe and match-igniter, and it is especially adapted for pocket use, although certain features may be used in either match-safes or match-igniters considered separately, and whether adapted for pocket use or not.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and durable structure, sufiiciently compact to be adapted for pocket use, and containing safely a supply of matches and means for igniting them.

The invention, which may be carried out in a variety of ways, is illustrated, by way of example, in the form of a tube closed at both ends; a spring serving to cause the protrusion, from the other end of the tube, of a match-igniter, followed by a match box, so that a match may readily be withdrawn from the box and ignited; whereupon the box and igniter may be pressed back telescopically into the tube, closing the same; both the matches and the igniter being protected against injury, while the pocket of the user does not come in contact with the material of the match-heads or of the igniter.

The match-box fits telescopically within the tube or casing, and carries upon its upper end the match-igniter, which is preferably in the form of an ignition-strip wound upon a spool. The spool is secured upon the top of the match-box, which thus serves as a means whereby the igniter is supported upon the casing, which latter serves as a convenient handle by which to hold the device when striking a match. The ignitionstrip is wound upon and clipped to the spool. The clip may be readily opened to release the strip, and then closed after adjustment of the strip. The match-box has an open side, the opening being of such form that the mere tipping of the device will cause the matches to hang out of the box but without likelihood of dropping therefrom, so that it is very easy to select a match and withdraw it, and there is no need to insert the fingers in the box for the purpose of securing a match, and hence the box may be made quite small, as is desired for the pocket.

One of the principal features of the present invention relates to the form of the match-safe and igniter. It is made in the form of a box considerably thinner than it is wide, being somewhat like a flattened ellipse in cross-section, whereby it may have large capacity for holding matches, but may yet be carried conveniently in the pocket of the user. The form of the ribbon-spool corresponds with the form of the casing, and the igniting strip may be all wound upon the spool,.and its free end held in place by a spring clip, which is rendered accessiblewhen the spool is projected from the casing. The clip may be withdrawn to release the strip, a single winding of which may then be unwound, and the clip restored to effective position, and the strip may be torn off,

against the edge of the clip, which may serve'as a knife-edge for this purpose. The elliptical or flattened form of the spool is an advantage for the further reason that it presents a long flat or nearly flat surface, on each side of the spool, to serve as a striking surface for igniting the matches. The match-holder and strip-spool are retained in the casing by a releasable catch. Said catch may be released by pressure of the thumb or finger thereon, whereby the matchboxis freed to be protruded by a spring.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter apear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a spool flange, which normally serves as a cover for the casing.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the match-box and spool, with the top flange withdrawn.

Fig. 3 is a compression spring employed in protruding the match-box and igniting device from the casing.

Fig. 4: is a perspective View of the casing.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing the device locked in closed position, and illustrating the manner of releasing the lock.

Fig. 6 is a part-sectional edge elevation of the device opened, and indicating the manner of unwinding the igniting strip.

Fig. 7 shows in perspective and separately the spool core, the lower spool flange (which also serves as a top for the match-box), the tubular body portion of the match box, the clip for the free end of the igniting strip, and the latch for releasably holding the match box closed; match box. 7 r

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the spool and a supply of igniting strip wound thereon; showing also the strip clip.

Fig. 9 shows the manner of opening the box, the same being in inclined position to permit the upper portions of the matches to incline outwardly from thebox for accessibility. r

The matches 1 are contained in a box 2, which telescopes within a flattened tubular holder 8, constituting the body of the casing, and being thin in proportion to its width, to make it suitable for carrying in the pocket, as it may be capacious without distending the pocket. The casing may be elliptical in cross-section, or parallel-sided with rounded ends, as shown; and the match-box 2 may be of corresponding shape, fitting closely within the casing, but free to move endWise therein. The bottom of the matchbox is designated as 4. The casing may, if desired, be lined with paper or suitable material 5, tending to keep the box clean and bright.

One of the narrow sides of the match-box is open at 6, for insertion and'withdrawal of matches; the opening being preferably in the form of an elongated V-shape cut, terminating at its small end between the top and bottom of the box. By tipping the box as at Fig. 9, the matches are caused to hang out of the opening, where they are readily accessible and can easily be withdrawn one by one. 7

The match-igniter, carried upon the upper also the bottom of the end of the match-box 2, comprises a fiat-.

tened spool, card or reel 7, upon which are wound layers of match-ignition strip 8, forming a flattened coil, upon either side of which a match may be struck, each side constituting a flat striking surface of ample length' The spool core 7 may be very thin, and the coil maybe wound thereon to the capacity of the casing 3, so that the original strip may be of ample length and therefore need but infrequent renewal.

The end of the strip may be secured by a clip 11, mounted upon the narrow side of the match-box opposite the match-opening 6, and in the form of a spring finger to press the end portion of the strip against the body of the coil, or against the narrow end of the core 7. This clip is mounted to slide endwise to release the strip, and for this purpose passes through" guide-openings 12 in the box. A finger-piece or grip 13 'upon the clip enables the user to move it endwise to opener close it upon the coil.

I After the exposed surface of the strip is exhausted, the clip may be withdrawn, one layer of the strip unwound, the clip restored to effective position,,and thestrip torn off, the edge of the clip serving as a knife-edge for this purpose. The tip of the clip may flare out a trifle, to avoid fouling upon the strip as it is thrust over the same.

The upper flange 15 of the spool may normally serve as the cover or end for the casing 3, and may be held in place on the spool by a central tongue 16 fitting tightly within the tubular core 7. The removable flange permits the marketing of the strip in the form of a coil ready to be slipped upon the core, so that the necessity of winding the strip upon the core may be avoided.

The lower flange 17 of the spool may be fixed upon the head of the match-box, or may comprise such head; and the tubular core 7 may be fixed thereto. The outward movement of the match-box from the casing may be limited by an interior stop 22, which will engage (Fig. 9) the bottom of the V-shape notch for this purpose. This stop may be removable to permit the box to be Withdrawn from the casing; and for this purpose may be made in the form of a screw threaded into the casing and having a nipple to constitute the stop.

Between the bottom 4 of the match-box and the bottom 23 of the casing may be confined a coiled compression-spring 24, capableof expanding sufiiciently to project the box to position to render the matches accessible. The spring and box are normally restrained by a latch 25; but upon pressing a button 26 (upon preferably the opposite side oredge of the casing from the V-shaped opening 6), the latch is released, and the box flies out 011 open. If the device is held in the hand with the edge upward upon which the button is placed, the V-shaped notch will be at the under side when the box is projected, so that the matches will hang out of the opening. Upon pressing the box back into the casing, the same slips past the latch, which finally springs into position to lock the box closed.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A combined match-safe and ignitiondevice, comprising a thin, flat or oblong core, a supply of ignition-strip comprising numerous coils wound upon said core, means arranged at one end of the core to press the end of the strip against the end of said core or the coils thereon, and a match-containing portion forming a casing within which said spool with the strip thereon is confined; said casing bein oblong in cross-section; and means mova le relatively to said casing being provided for rendering the .matches accessible and for exposing the spool of ignition strip to permitthe striking of a match upon either side thereof.

2. The combination of an open-ended emma tube or casing flattened so that it is oblong in cross-section; a flattened matchbox fitting within said casing and having one of its narrow sides open, and movable relatively to said casing to render the matches accessible; and a flattened spool or core mounted upon the upper end of said matchbox within said casing and having a supply of igniting material coiled therearound; said spool having a top flange which normally closes said casing.

3. A combination match-safe and igniter, comprising a tubular casing, a match-ignition device confined within one end portion of the casing and movable out from the casing to expose the match-igniti0n device for use, and a match-containing box also confined Within said casing and also movable out from the casing to afford access to the matches, said match-igniting device comprising a central support, a flange supported wholly by said central support and normally forming a cover for said casing; said central support rising from said box; a supply of ignition strip forming numerous coils entirely Wound upon said central support or core; and a releasable clip for the end of the strip.

4:. A combination match-safe and igniter comprising a flattened tubular casing, a flat tened match-box confined within said casing and conforming thereto and having an opening for matches, and movable out from said casing to expose said opening, a central support rising from said box, a flange supported wholly by said central support and normally forming a cover for said casing, a coil of ignition strip comprising numerous layers wound upon said central support or core; said central support being flattened to form a flat core or reel which is about parallel with the flat or wide sides of the casing and box; and a clip for the free end of the strip.

5. The combination of a flattened tubular casing, a flattened match-box telescoped within said casing and having a normally closed match-opening, a flattened support or core erected upon said match-box and arranged Within said casing about parallel with the flattened sides of the matchbox and easing, a match-igniting strip supply coiled upon said core and presenting two opposite long sides for match-striking surfaces, and means to secure the free end of the strip.

6. The combination of a tubular casing; a match-container telescoped within the easing; a core upon which is wound an ignition strip; said core normally Within said casing but the box and core being movable 'to expose the matches and strip; and a releasable clip for confining the strip; said clip being mounted upon said box for opening and closing movements to release and clip the strip, and being in all its positions movable with said box into and out of said casing.

7 The combination of a tubular casing; a match-containing box telescoped Within the casing; an ignition device also within the casing and comprising a strip and mounted for movement With the box to render the matches and ignition device accessible; and a clip for the free end of the ignition strip; said clip in the form of a finger mounted on said box for endwise movement across the strip, to clip and release the same, and in all positions being movable into said casing with said box.

8. The combination of a flattened tubular casing, a flattened match-box telescoped within said casing, a flattened tubular core rising from said match-box Within said casing, a match-igniting strip supply coiled upon said core, and a flange having a tongue inserted in said tubular core and normally forming a cover for said casing.

9. A combination match-safe and igniter, comprising a flat tubular casing, a fiat coil of match-igniting material confined Within one end portion of the casing, a spring confined Within the other end portion of inaccessible in said incasing structure; and.

means supporting said spool and the strip thereon upon said incasing structure in a manner to permit movement of the spool away from the incasing structure and simultaneously cause the matches in the incasing structure to be rendered accessible.

JACOB E. NEAI-IR. "Witnesses W. O. WESTPHAL, JULIUS Docxs'rmn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. i 

